Collapsible tray table and frame assemblage



Feb. 10, 1959 M. SUBEN COLLAPSIBLE TRAY TABLE AND FRAME ASSEMBLAGE Filed Nov. 1, 1957 m TN m5 v5 mu 5 N m m My B I? TTORNE Y United States Pat nro COLLAPSIBLE TRAY TABLE AND FRAME ASSEMBLAGE Morten Suben, Mount Vernon, N. Y., assiguor ofon ehalf to Max Caplan, East HillsgN. Y.

This invention relates to a combination tray and table employing means for collapsihly supporting the same on a wall, panel or other surface, with means for supporting the table in extended horizontal position with respect to the supporting means. v

Further, the invention deals with a combination of the character described, wherein means-is provided for detachably coupling the table with respect to supporting means so that the table may be utilized as a trayl More particularly, the invention deals in a combination of the character described, wherein the supporting means is in the form of a U-shaped frame channelled throughout the major portion of its length and, wherein, the combination tray table includes a finishing strip matching with the exposed surface of the frame and completing the front fourth wall of the frame.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain em bodiments of the invention are disclosed, and,in which, the separate parts are designated bysuitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a reduced front view of a collapsible tray table and supporting frame assemblage of the character defined showing the table in collapsed position, with parts of the construction broken way.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken section through one side of the supporting frame substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showingthe tray table in elevation and section in extended horizontal positionand broken away; and

Fig. 3' is a partial section on the line 33 of Fig. 1' on an enlarged scale and illustrating, in dot-dash lines, the position of the tray table, preparatory to removal of the same from the supporting frame.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have indicated at a substantially U-shaped rectangular supporting'frame, which can be of any depth and width, the depth andwidth dc: fining substantially the dimensions of the resulting table or tray to be used in conjunction with the frame. Combinations of the type and kind under consideration Will preferably be formed in substantially standard trayttable sizes.

.The frame 10 has two similar sides 11; joined by a bottom crosshead 12. The sides and crosshead 12 are bothof channel cross-sectional form and defined by a front or outer wall 13, which is of less width than the back wall 14, as is clearly noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing,

where a section is taken through the bottom part of the frame. This same section would prevail if taken through the side members 11 throughout most of its length and with the exception of the top of said side members, where the front wall 13 is cut out, as seen at 15, to form a suppolrtingledge and further cut out to form the apertures 16. .It will appear that the cutout 15 forms a vertical wall 17 for clearanceof a"combination tray table 18 in extending the same into horizontal position, as later described, as well as in detaching the tray table 18 from the frame 10.

The channel at the upper ends of the side members 11 of the frame .10 includes filler bearing blocks, one of which is shown at 19, partially in section at the right of Fig. l, and a face view of this hearing block is illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be understood that a similar bearingblock is on the opposed side of the frame and outer surfaces of the bearing blocks 19 are in. alinement with the edges 17 of the cutouts 15.

Considering the bearing blocks 19, one of which is shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that lower surfaces of these bearing blocks are fashioned to form rounded recesses 20, in which pivot pins 21, projecting from sides of the tray table 18, seat when the tray'table is in raised and extended position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

From the rounded recesses 20. extends an upwardly bevelled wall 22, which is in alinement with the upper wall 23 of the aperture 16. It will also appear that the lower wall 24 of the aperture 16 is raised with respect to the lower wall of the cutout 15 so that, normally, the tray table 18 is prevented from accidental displacement from the frame 10 by outward movement while the table is in its horizontal position. However, by picking up the table and pulling outwardly to a slight extent and raising the protruding end of the table into a position substantially as indicated in dot-dash lines at 18 in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the table can be removed from the frameand used as a conventional tray.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, a section is shown through the wall of the tray 18 and, from this view, it will appear thatthe tray comprises a rectangular frame defined by a wide bottom all 25, a narrower upper wall 26 joined with and spaced from the wall 25 by a peripheral wall 27, the free edge of the wall 26 having an inturned flange, as at 28, which forms a stop for a suitable finishing corner strip 29 of any desired construction. No particular section is illustrated, but this strip, in some instances, may be composed of plastic material, rubber sealing compounds or sealing strips and many other mediums of this type and kind. The strip 29 effects a seal upon a glass panel 30 which forms the bottom of the resulting tray; whereas, another backing strip 31 of Formica or the like, can be used to form the closure facing for the bottom 1 of the table or tray.

, By reason of the location of the pins 21, either surface 30 or 31 can be exposed upwardly when the table is in the horizontal use position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and, in the same manner, either of these surfaces can be exposed externally of the assemblage when the tray table 18 is in the collapsed position shown in Fig. l of the drawing. 1 u 1 When the tray table is in the extended position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the sides ofthe rectangular tray table bear upon the edges 15 of the cutouts 15 which form supporting edges maintaining the horizontal position I of the tray table and this is further checked by the pins;

tion shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, a completely rectangular framewill be presented, except for the appear ance of the apertures 16 In other words, thestrip 32, will; be cut outat its end portions, as seen at 33 at the left ofFig. l, to fit on the cutouts, as at 15. The frame 10 is preferably made of a single channel strip and the walls Patented eb. 10, 1959 13 and 14 will be mortised, as seen at to bring the walls 13, 14 of the side members 11 and the bottom member 12 into abutting engagement with each other andtheseabutting edges may be soldered or welded toget her.

Returning now .to the vstrip32, it will appear that the cutouts, as at'33, form, on the wall 25, protruding flanges -34 and, in Fig. 1, part of the central portion of thetray table unit is shown to indicate an outwardly .extended fingerpiece portion 35 formed in the flange 34 toprovide a grip for raising the unit 18 in the frame 10, preparatory to swinging this unit into its horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, as and when the pins 21 strike the recesses in the bearings 19.

In order-to support the unit 18 in the confined position within the walls..13 of the frame .10, I provide upwardly projecting stops 3.6 on the bottom part 12 of the frame adjacent the side members 11 of the frame and one of these stops is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

By providing the wider inner walls 14.01; the frame 10, the extended portions of these walls are provided with apertures 37 for attachment of the frame to a suitable support.

In the useof the combination, it will be understood that the projecting pins 21 only have a bearing upon the outer walls of the channelledtside members 11 of the frame 10; thus minimizing frictional engagement and the distance between the walls 13 and 14 is such to provide free upward and downward movement of the unit 18in the frame. In this connection, it will be understood that the apertures 16 extend to the crosshead wall of the channelled side members 11 and part of these crosshead walls are indicated at 11' in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

It will be apparent that, in collapsing the unit .18 in the frame, the side of the unit 18, including the strip 32, will always be disposed outermost. 'However, from a horizontal use position of the unit 18, this strip can be lowermost or uppermost, depending upon whether or not the deep tray side of the unit is to be disposed outwardly or the shallow side having the facing 31 thereon exposed uppermost.

In the use of the assemblage the frame 10 is mounted upon a suitable support by suitable fastening means passed'through the apertures 37, with the open side of the .frame directed upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawframe-until-they reach .a position such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing, this downwardmovement being checked by the lower part of the unit '18 striking'the stops 36, with the unit in this position the now top-of the unit becomes flush with the upper ends o'f the sides of the frame and the top sea ts, asat 15, so'that aside from the appearance-of the aperture 16 a complete rectangular frame would appearat the front of the assemblage.

"This is the structure as seen in full lines in Fig. l of the drawing, part of the central portion of the top of-the framebeing illustrated in order toclearly show the fingerpiece portion 35. From this collapsed position of the assemblage the unit 18 can be moved into theextended position, shown in full lines in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing, by

simply pulling up on the unit until the pins 21 strike and enter the rounded recesses 20 in the bearing blocks 19, whereupon the unit is swung outwardly tothe horizontal position and supported in-this position by engagement, as'at 15, note Fig. '2, withthepins -21'bearingupwardly againstthe'recesses 20.

Whenever desired 'thetable tray unit can be detached respect to thepivot pins of said unit.

from the frame by simply pulling upwardly on the protruding edge of the unit to bring it into a position substantially as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3, whereupon it can be removed from the frame and used as a portable tray. In this connection, it will be noted that the bevelled walls, as at 22, aid in guiding the movement of the unit.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible tray table and frame'assemblage comprising a substantially U-shaped channelled supporting frame defined by side and bottom members, a traytable unit collapsible and detachably coupled withthe frame, said unit comprising a rectangular frame having a deep tray surface, and a shallow panel surface, opposed sides of the unit, adjacent one end thereoffhaving projecting pivot and coupling pins slidable in opposed side channel members of said supporting frame, means at the upper end portions of the side channel members of thesupportingframe engaging said pins and unit for fixedly supporting the unit in horizontalprojected position with respect to the supporting frame, and said frame having means clearing the pins of the unit to facilitate detachable cou pling of the unit with respect to the frame.

2. Anassemblage as defined in claim- 1, wherein the first named means includesbutout portions in the side members of the supporting frame, forming supporting ledges upon which'the unit rests at a point spaced with 3. An assemblage as defined in claim 2, wherein the other of said first namedmeans includes recessed bearing portions in .whichthe pivot pins seat in support of the unit in "horizontal position with respect to the supporting a frame.

4. An assemblage as defined in claim 1, wherein a finishing strip is fixed'toone surface of the frame of said unit to match adjacent walls of the supporting frame and form a fourth wall defining in the supporting frame a rectangular contour when the unit is in collapsed position within the supporting frame.

5. Anassemblage as defined in claim 4, wherein said finishing strip includes a fingerpiece portionfor movement ofthe unit with respect to the supporting frame.

6. An assemblage as defined in claim 5, wherein the bottom of the supporting frameincludes stops checking downward movement of'the unit in said supporting I said unit, andsaid frame having means clearing the unit to facilitate detachable coupling of the unit with respect to the supporting frame. 8. An assemblage as defined in claim 7, wherein said first named means includes oppositely arranged project-' ing/pin's on opposed sides of the frame of said unit adjacent one .end thereof.

v 9. An assemblage as defined in claim 8, whereinthe positioning of the pins on the unit is such as to support the unit in the supporting frame with either a deep tray surface or av shallow panel surface upwardly when the unitis in extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,093,431 Justice, Apr. 14, .1914 1,200,477 Frantz Oct. 10, 1916 1,953,721

Smith June 19 1934 

